The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefit due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the requirements for additional SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, as they do not prevent natural elbow action with a prosthesis in place or result in anatomical loss of both arms at a level preventing use of a prosthetic appliance.
- Claimed conditions
- amputation of both arms below the elbow, left tibia and fibula fracture residuals, left femur fracture residuals with left knee arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 38%
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182606
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,676 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19182606.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left tibia and fibula fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise its November 12, 1981 decision that reduced his disability rating for left leg fracture residuals from 30% to 10%, and terminated his TDIU. The Board found no CUE in this decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was granted a 20% rating effective June 8, 1999. The left tibia and fibula fracture residuals were also granted a 10% rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examination records and ensuring compliance with VCAA notice requirements.
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